ITBO980251A1 - METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR THE PRODUCTION OF MEDICATED OR SUPPLEMENTED PREMIXTURES FOR ANIMAL FEED AND PREMIXTURES OBTAINED WITH THIS METHOD AND - Google Patents

Description

DESCRIPTION of the industrial invention, entitled:

"Method and apparatus for the production of medicated or integrated premixes for animal feed and premixes obtained with this method and apparatus"

TEXT OF THE DESCRIPTION

When it is necessary to carry out mass therapies in industrial farms, the use of medicated feeds is known, obtained by mixing in the right ratio with elementary feeds, specific medicated and authorized pre-mixes.

The medicated or in any case integrated premixes are currently produced by dry mixing in one or more elementary feeds active ingredients, normally in powder form, which have very different volume and weight fractions, with non-comparable particle sizes.

This current method has limits and drawbacks that can be summarized as follows:

- unevenness of the mixture produced, with consequent administration of improper quantities of active ingredients, with negative effects on the health status of the animal and on the quality of its meat;

- almost general absence of cohesion between the powders of the active ingredients and the mass of the food feed, with dispersion of the drug in the air upon handling and with consequent risks for the operator;

- at the end of a production cycle of a medicated premix, part of the active ingredients can remain in the system and can create cross-contamination problems, polluting the premix of the next cycle. To this end, it should be noted that current regulations consider medicated premixes as full-fledged veterinary medicines, for which a certain period of suspension of administration must be observed before slaughtering the animal.

The invention proposes a new method and a relative apparatus capable of obviating the drawbacks and limits previously stated and which allows to:

- obtain medicated premixes that can be homogeneously dispersed in the feed;

- obtain medicated premixes that can be handled with absolute tranquility by the operators, without risks due to excessive dispersion of dust in the work environment;

- obtain medicated premixes that effectively incorporate medical additives, so that the latter do not remain in worrying quantities in the processing plants, to avoid the aforementioned phenomenon of cross-contamination;

- obtain medicated premixes that keep the animal's assimilability unaltered.

These and other purposes have been achieved with the following solution idea. A porous carrier mass of vegetable type is used, particularly absorbent, with good fluidity and with specific weight aligned with that of the feed and with a granulometrial compatible with that of the feed itself. This carrier mass is heated to the right temperature and the active ingredient in powder is mixed dry first and in a subsequent phase the liquid is sprayed on the same mass at the right temperature, which due to the phenomenon of diffusion by capillarity in the porous carrier mass , allows the active principle to penetrate into the internal layers of said porous mass. The mass thus soaked is then cooled in order to permanently imprison the active principle.

Major characteristics of the invention, and the advantages which they entail, will become clearer from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof, illustrated purely by way of non-limiting example, in the figures of the single attached drawing table, in which:

- fig. 1 shows a block diagram of a plant for carrying out the method according to the invention;

- figs. 2 and 3 show longitudinally and transversely sectioned views of the mixing-imbibition unit according to a possible embodiment.

To ensure optimal characteristics of the medicated premix, the mass intended to carry the active ingredient must meet the following requirements:

- it must have a specific gravity similar to that of elementary feed;

- it must have a composition that can be completely digested by the animal;

- it must have a granulometry similar to that of the nutrient masses of feed;

- must have a marked aptitude to absorb liquids;

- it must be compatible with the food needs of the animals;

- it must have purchase and crushing costs at the right particle size, acceptable for the use in question;

- must be commercially available in adequate quantities.

From preliminary tests and experiments, it has been ascertained that corn cob could be advantageously used as the carrier mass, ie the internal part of the corn cob, consisting mainly of a porous cellulose structure. The corn cob basically consists of three parts. A peripheral and a central part, which are the lightest parts, and an intermediate part which constitutes the hard part of the cob and which has woody characteristics. This woody part is very hard, has a higher density than the other two parts, is very absorbent and is extremely fluid. This same woody part has the following characteristics:

- specific weight aligned with that of the feed;

- good fluidity;

- good ability to absorb liquids.

It is therefore believed that the carrier mass for the purposes in question can be advantageously constituted by the aforementioned woody and intermediate part of the corn cob, without however excluding any other carrier mass which has characteristics suitable for the present use.

The corn cob is crushed to a suitable granulometry, and then is selected to separate and collect the aforementioned woody part which is suitably dried and which is subsequently taken up again with the term "carrier mass". This mass must for the most part have a particle size comprised, for example, between about 850 and 560 microns.

From figure 1 it can be seen that suitable dosing means A are provided to withdraw a correct quantity of carrier mass from the relative storage unit and to introduce it into a mixing or remixing unit B, in which special dosing means schematically indicated with C introduce a control a right amount of active ingredients taken from the relative storage unit. With E, means are generically indicated that heat unit B to the right temperature. An amount of active product of about 200 kg is mixed in a quantity of carrier mass for example of about 700 kg. The mixing step lasts for example about five minutes and is carried out at a temperature of about 60-70 ° C.

After the aforementioned mixing phase, while the mass remains mixed, any suitable imbibition liquid is sprayed or nebulized on the same mass, taken from the relative storage unit by special dosing means D and heated to the right temperature by special means E. For this For this purpose, good results have been achieved for example with the use of a suitable alcohol, for example propylene glycol or polyglycols, or a suitable oil, for example petroleum jelly or a vegetable oil, for example rapeseed oil. In the aforementioned proportions of carrier mass and active principles, the quantity of imbibition liquid used can for example be about 100 kg, heated to a temperature of about 90 <D> C. The spraying or nebulization phase of the liquid on the composite mass lasts for example about five minutes.

After this phase, the mass is further mixed and kneaded in unit B, at a temperature of about 60-70 ° C, for a period of about twenty minutes. The active principle, through the imbibition liquid, penetrates by capillarity into the structure of the carrier mass which expands due to the effect of the imbibition itself and the treatment temperature.

After the last phase of mixing and kneading as mentioned above, the composite and soaked mass is cooled to room temperature. The medicated premix thus obtained traps the active principles inside and thus obviates all the drawbacks mentioned in the introduction to the present disclosure.

The cooling of the medicated mass can be advantageously carried out during the transport phase of the same from the aforementioned treatment unit B to the storage unit G and for this purpose a pneumatic conveyor P, with suction unit H and with a mechanical abatement unit L consisting of separator cyclones and filters for purifying the air to be discharged into the atmosphere. The medicated mass which falls on the bottom of the separator L is transferred into the storage unit G by known means. This cooling and transport system can be connected in succession with different process units, so that while one of these units is operational, another of these units is in the unloading phase, to ensure an almost continuous production of medicated premix.

From Figures 2 and 3 it can be seen that the unit B-E 'which carries out the mixing-imbitioning-kneading phases, comprises a tank 1 of suitable dimensions, with a substantially horizontal development, with a bottom 101 with a semicircular profile, on the bottom of which there is longitudinally arranged an auger 2 which is rotated by suitable means indicated schematically by 3 and whose blades 102 are shaped in any way such as to perform an effective mixing-kneading action and to advance the material in the direction of the arrow F, in direction of the end of the same chamber which is provided with a lower discharge orifice 4 intercepted by a normally closed valve 5.

The chamber 1 is equipped with cavities 6 through whose inlet and discharge ducts 106-206 a heating fluid is made to circulate, in order to maintain in the same chamber the operating temperature of about 60-70 ° C mentioned above. The chamber 1 is equipped at the top, for example in a position opposite to the outlet 4, with a feeding mouth 7 through which the carrier mass and the active ingredients are introduced into the same chamber. During the operation of the unit B-E ', the mouth 7 is closed by suitable means, for example by a valve 8.

In the upper part of the chamber 1 the means 9 operate which on command nebulize downwards the right quantity of hot liquid for the imbibition of the carrier mass.

The operation of the unit B-E 'thus conceived, is simple and evident. In chamber 1, the auger 2 mixes the carrier mass and the suitably heated active ingredients and at the same time advances everything in the direction of the arrow F, so that the material rises to the right-hand end of the same chamber and returns to recirculation with sliding on itself, according to its angle of friction or fluidity, as indicated by the recirculation arrows F-F '. During the nebulization phase of the liquid on the mass of the mixed product, the fluidity of the same mass first increases due to the presence of the liquid on the surface of the particles that make up the same mass and then decreases as the liquid with the principles

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active penetrates into the same particles. The chamber 1 can be equipped with suitable portholes 10 which allow the visualization of the working process that is carried out therein. At the end of the work cycle, the valve 5 is opened and the medicated premix is evacuated from the chamber 1 through the discharge port 4, while the auger 2 remains active. Chamber 1 will be equipped with special doors for inspection and internal cleaning, not illustrated.

It is evident how all the active principle is incorporated in the carrier mass and how the problems of cross-contamination existing in the known art are therefore eliminated.

It is understood that the description refers to a preferred embodiment of the invention, to which numerous variations and modifications, especially constructive ones, can be made, all without abandoning the guiding principle of the invention, as described above, as illustrated and as claimed below. In the claims, the references shown in brackets are purely indicative and do not limit the scope of protection of the claims themselves

Claims (4)

CLAIMS 1) Method for the production on an industrial scale of medicated or integrated premixes for animal feed, characterized by the following work phases: - use of a carrier mass that can be added to the feed, compatible with the food needs of the animals, completely digestible, available on the market in adequate quantities and with sufficiently low costs, with specific weight and particle size similar to that of the particles that compose i mangino., suitably dried and with a good aptitude to absorb liquids; - mixing and mixing in an environment heated to an adequate temperature, of a right quantity of said carrier mass with a right quantity of active ingredients, for example medical, while the said mixing phase continues, in the composite mass is sprinkled or nebulized with the liquid compatible for the purposes in question, in the right quantity, heated to an adequate temperature and useful for the imbibition of the said carrier mass and to aggregate the principles active and the mixing and kneading phase is maintained for an adequate time, such as to ensure the total aggregation of the active principle to the carrier mass; - once the liquid has been imbibed with the active ingredients, the medicated premix is cooled and stored. 2) Method according to claim 1), in which the liquid used for the imbibition of the carrier mass is such that due to the phenomenon of diffusion by capillarity in the porous carrier mass, the active principles penetrate into the inner layers of the particles that make up the carrier mass itself . 3) Method according to claim 1), in which during the whole execution of the same method, the composite mass being treated is heated to a temperature of between 50 and 80 ° C, preferably at about 60-70 ° C. 4) Method according to claim 1), in which the imbibition liquid is introduced into the composite mass at a temperature higher than the heating temperature of the same mass, for example at a temperature of about 90 ° C. 5} Method according to claim 1), wherein the carrier mass is constituted by the woody and crushed part of the corn cob. 6) Method according to claim 1), in which the imbibition liquid is for example constituted by a suitable alcohol, for example by propylene glycol or polyglycols. 7) Method according to claim 1), wherein the imbibition liquid is constituted for example by a suitable oil, for example by vaseline oil or by a vegetable oil, for example by rapeseed oil. 8) Method according to the preceding claims, in which the carrier mass and the active principles are initially mixed for a time of at least about five minutes. 9) Method according to the preceding claims, in which the intermediate step of spraying the soaking liquid on the carrier mass previously mixed with the active ingredients, lasts at least about five minutes. 10) Method according to the preceding claims, in which the final stage of mixing and kneading the composition formed by the carrier mass, the active ingredients and the imbition liquid lasts at least about twenty minutes. 11) Apparatus for the production of medicated or integrated premixes for medical nutrition, characterized by comprising: - means (A) for dosing a correct quantity of carrier mass taken from a relative storage unit; - means (C) for dosing a right quantity of active ingredients taken from a relative storage unit; - means (D) for dosing a correct quantity of imbibition liquid taken from a relative storage unit; - means (E) for heating the imbibition liquid to the temperature required by the process of use; - a unit (B) for mixing and kneading the carrier mass, the active ingredients and the imbibition liquid; - means (E ') for heating said mixing and kneading unit (B); - means (P, L, H) for cooling and for transporting the medicated premix produced in said mixing and kneading unit to a special storage unit (G). 12) Apparatus according to claim 11), wherein the mixing and kneading unit (Β-Ε ') comprises a chamber (1) with horizontal development, closed, with a rounded section bottom (101), on which it is arranged longitudinally an auger (2) which rotates at the right speed in a direction such as to determine the mixing of the material and its displacement in the direction of a discharge mouth (4) normally closed by special valve means (5) and provided on the end of the same chamber against which the material stops, rises and returns in recirculation by sliding on itself, being the same chamber equipped at the top with a mouth (7) for loading the materials to be treated, also equipped with special means closure (8) and in the upper part of the same chamber being provided means (9) for the delivery of the imbibition liquid by command and the same chamber being equipped with cavities (6) in which a fluid is circulated for r the heating of the products to be treated in the unit in question. 13) Apparatus according to claim 11), in which the means (P) for cooling and transporting the medicated premix from the production unit (B-E ') to the storage unit (G) comprise pneumatic transport means (P), with cyclone separators (L) and with filters for air purification before discharge into the atmosphere. 14) Medicated premix obtained with the method and with the apparatus referred to in the preceding claims, characterized by. animals and completely digestible, as well as with a good aptitude to absorb liquids, since this mass is composed, for example, of the woody part of the crushed corn cob with the right granulometry and dried, and this mass being soaked with any suitable liquid that in the diffusion phase by capillarity in the same carrier mass, it allows the medical active ingredients associated with the premix to penetrate into the internal layers of the same mass and / or remain firmly bound to this mass. 15) Method and apparatus for the production on an industrial scale of medicated or integrated premixes, for animal feed and relative premixes obtained with this method and apparatus, i.1 all being conceived and implemented more particularly, in whole or substantially, as described, as illustrated in the figures of the single attached drawing table and for the purposes set out above.